WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Congressman Brian Mast is pointing to progress on some of the Treasure Coast’s biggest issues as he campaigns for a sixth term, while laying out what he says still needs to be done on taxes, transportation, water quality, and health concerns.
In a wide-ranging one-on-one interview with CBS12 News, the Republican congressman discussed everything from Lake Okeechobee and Brightline to Florida’s rapid growth and concerns about a possible cancer cluster in St. Lucie County.
The interview is part of CBS12 News’ continuing coverage of the race for Florida’s 21st Congressional District.
CBS12 News had hoped to bring voters a debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees, but the Democratic primary remained too close to call for days. It was not until Friday that the Associated Press declared James Martin the winner by a little more than 300 votes.
CBS12 News will sit down one-on-one with Martin next Friday to give voters a chance to hear directly from Mast’s Democratic opponent ahead of the November election.
See also: James Martin wins Democratic primary, will face Brian Mast in Florida’s 21st District
Mast, who has represented the area since 2017, said one of the accomplishments he is most proud of is the progress made toward reducing harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges into the St. Lucie River.
He pointed to changes in the way the Army Corps of Engineers manages Lake Okeechobee, the construction of the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir, and increased federal funding for Everglades restoration.
Mast said federal funding for ecosystem restoration has grown from roughly $60 million to $65 million a year when he entered office to hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
He said those projects have helped dramatically reduce the threat of damaging discharges into the Treasure Coast’s waterways.
“I hope they look at it and they say, you know what? In 2016, when Brian Mast came into office, or before he came into office, we couldn’t go and sit on our dock in our backyard because there were toxic algal blooms all around St. Lucie, all across the Treasure Coast,” Mast said.
Brightline station on the Treasure Coast
Mast also said he wants Treasure Coast residents to get more benefit from Brightline trains that currently travel through the region without stopping.
“Absolutely,” Mast said when asked whether he would like to see a Brightline presence on the Treasure Coast. “If they’re going to be instead of just a pass through through our community, a place where people can get on and get off, that would be a benefit.”
But Mast questioned whether taxpayers should be expected to shoulder the full cost of a new station.
He said Brightline has sought public funding for a station that could cost tens of millions of dollars and suggested a less expensive passenger platform should at least be considered.
Mast also highlighted roughly $220 million in funding for replacement of the aging Florida East Coast Railway bridge over the St. Lucie River.
The new bridge is expected to provide significantly more clearance for boats, reducing conflicts between rail and marine traffic.
Renewed push for cancer cluster investigation
Mast also told CBS12 News he has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take another look at concerns about glioblastoma cases in St. Lucie County.
The aggressive form of brain cancer has raised concerns among some families who believe the number of cases in the area warrants additional investigation.
Previous state and federal reviews did not determine that a cancer cluster existed.
Mast said the emergence of additional cases deserves another examination.
“I have requested again that the CDC come in,” Mast said. “We’re seeing more instances of this aggressive brain tumor. You need to come in and you need to take a look.”
Mast said he wants federal health officials to provide residents with detailed data explaining how the cases were evaluated and whether there is any connection between them.
Supporting Amendment 3
Mast also gave his full support to Amendment 3, which would increase Florida’s homestead exemption and reduce property taxes for qualifying homeowners.
For Mast, the issue comes down to allowing Floridians to keep more of their money.
“I fully support reducing the tax burden,” Mast said. “Every dollar that we spend in government, at any level of government, federal or local, it comes out of your pocket.”
Cities, counties, and some public safety agencies have warned the amendment could reduce the money available to provide local services.
Mast acknowledged there could be an impact on local budgets but said governments should also examine their own spending and look for places to cut.
“There are absolutely places that our cities and our counties can cut,” Mast said.
Growth and data centers
With Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County experiencing explosive population growth, Mast said federal infrastructure funding will be an important part of keeping up.
As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mast said his role allows him to advocate for federal dollars for roads, bridges, airports and other major projects in the district.
He also weighed in on the growing debate over massive data centers needed to power artificial intelligence and other technology.
Mast acknowledged the country needs data centers but said that does not mean they need to be built in South Florida.
“Do they need to be in your backyard or in the 21st congressional district? Absolutely not,” Mast said.
He said those decisions ultimately belong to local communities, which have to weigh potential jobs and tax revenue against demands on electricity, water and the character of the community.
Health care and affordability
On health care, Mast said he does not support bringing back enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that were tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, he pointed to efforts to reduce prescription drug prices and said consumers should have more flexibility to choose health plans based on what they actually need.
Mast also argued that reducing taxes is one of the most effective ways Washington can address affordability, pointing to tax reductions involving tips, overtime and Social Security.
Iran and gas prices
As chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mast also defended the U.S. response to Iran.
Mast argued Iran has targeted American interests and service members for years and said preventing the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon is critical to U.S. security.
He acknowledged that instability in the Middle East has contributed to higher gas prices and said he supports eliminating the federal gasoline and diesel taxes as another way to lower prices at the pump.
Term limits
Despite seeking a sixth term himself, Mast said he supports congressional term limits and has signed a pledge committing to vote for them if legislation reaches the House floor.
If he were writing the proposal, Mast said he would limit House members to three terms, or six years, while allowing one or possibly two Senate terms.
Mast said his own record is what he wants voters to consider as he asks them for another term—particularly his work on the Treasure Coast’s waterways, veterans, and taxes.
“I hope they say, you know what, Brian does what he says,” Mast said.